Six students in the De Soto School District have been diagnosed with scabies, a highly contagious skin disorder caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin.
De Soto assistant superintendent Clint Freeman said Friday (Nov. 15) that there are four confirmed cases at the high school, one at the junior high and one at the elementary school.
The school district sent a letter to parents Thursday (Nov. 14) with information about the outbreak, symptoms of scabies and a recommendation to seek medical treatment if symptoms are present.
In addition, Freeman said, the custodial staff is thoroughly cleaning all school buildings.
Dennis Diehl with the Jefferson County Health Department said school officials contacted his department for advice.
“They have contacted parents, and they are doing lot of clean up, probably more than they really needed to do,” Diehl said.
Diehl said scabies are transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. Typically the mites are passed on by household members, through sexual contact, or in facilities like nursing homes or jails.
Diehl said a school setting isn’t a common place for an outbreak to spread.
“In a normal school setting, this is not a real issue,” Diehl said. “It’s not likely to be transmitted at a school, but that can depend on what people are doing.”
Diehl said scabies cause severe itching.
According to the school district’s letter, the itching is usually worse at night and is worse for small children and older adults. A rash with tiny blisters usually occurs on the hands, feet, wrist, elbows, back, buttocks and external genitals.
It can take up to six weeks for symptoms to appear.
And medical treatment is needed to kill the mites.
Freeman said students who have been diagnosed with scabies must have a doctor’s clearance to return to school.